Elliott's brace leads Town youngsters to fourth win on the trot
STRATFORD Town Youth maintained their grip on third spot in the MFYL Premier Division South table with a comfortable 4-0 success over a spirited Bromsgrove Sporting side.
Looking for a fourth win on the bounce, Town piled forward straight from the kick off, and only a smart save from Bromsgrove keeper Will Pitt at the foot of his right-hand post prevented Tyrike Richards-Burke giving them a fifth-minute lead.
Tommy Harrington went close soon after and Town’s pressure paid off as they took the lead in the 17th minute when a long-range effort from Caine Elliott completely deceived Pitt, with the ball sailing over his head before dipping under the bar into the back of the net.
Bromsgrove tried to respond with Frankie Dowd shooting narrowly wide and Asa Crosling having his header confidently held by Town keeper Ryan Woodward, but Town were in control and went close to extending their advantage in their closing minutes of the first half.
Harrington wasn’t far away with an audacious lob when Pitt’s clearance went straight to him some 30 yards out followed by Pitt making decent saves to keep out on-target attempts from Harrington and Richards-Burke.
Bromsgrove though were quicker into their stride after the restart and Woodward kept Town’s lead intact saving well from Dowd and then from Ryan Maksuva before Town recovered their earlier composure and doubled their lead in the 65th minute.
Again, it was Elliott from some way out as his 25-yard free-kick was driven in low and fizzed through the congested Bromsgrove penalty area without anyone getting a touch to nestle in the bottom corner of the net.
The result was never really in doubt from then on, and Town added a third with a quarter of an hour to go when Callum Gallagher’s sliderule pass sent Jack Ballinger clear down the inside left channel and he shot past the advancing Pitt with the ball going in off the inside of the far post.
And Darren Timms’ side wrapped it all up in the 83rd minute when Rob Sone’s right wing corner went all the way across to Harrington, who brought it under control before swivelling to fire past the helpless Pitt.